What you need to know about Macklemore and accusations of antisemitism

Rapper Macklemore is facing renewed accusations of antisemitism due to his pro-Palestinian activism, a decade after apologizing for wearing a costume widely seen as a Jewish caricature. Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and subsequent Gaza war, Macklemore released the song “Hind’s Hall” in May 2024, which praised pro-Palestinian student protesters and criticized U.S. support for Israel. He also released “F***ed Up” in February 2025, which connected U.S. aid to Israel with domestic income inequality and juxtaposed images of Palestinian children with a Holocaust photo. These actions led to his cancellation from opening for Ed Sheeran at Gillette Stadium by owner Robert Kraft, who cited Macklemore’s “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.” The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which forgave him in 2014, now calls his actions “unacceptable.” Despite criticism from Jewish and pro-Israel figures, Macklemore has garnered support from other artists and progressive politicians like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.